Meripilus giganteus

The giant polypore

Fruiting bodies are up to 30 cm across or more, composed of multiple caps sharing a branched, stemlike base. Caps are 5–20 cm across; fan-shaped; finely velvety or bald; whitish becoming brownish with age; often radially streaked and concentrically zoned; the margin thin, bruising and aging black. Pore surface is whitish, becoming dirty tan; bruising dark brown to black when fresh; with 6–8 round to angular pores per mm; tubes are up to 8 mm deep. It is parasitic on living oaks and other hardwoods causing a white rot. It grows in large clusters of rosettes near the bases of trees, often reappearing in the same place in subsequent years in summer and fall.

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The individual hats are 8 - 30 cm wide, at first roughly fleshy with a conspicuous edge wall, later they are thinned with a sharp edge.

Tree Species: Beech

Part of a plant- attacked: Roots

Pest significance: Harmful

Pest Category: Fungi

Invasive Species: No

Present in EU: Yes

Pest group: Fungi